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“Okay, let's not panic,” Abi said, trying to reassure me. “We'll figure this out together.”
I nodded, my mind racing.
“Lucas!” Abi called up the stairs. “Can you please come watch Sofia for a minute?”
“Of course,” he said, and even after all this time it surprised me how well I could hear. Evan had never mentioned this part of being a dragon, but I supposed he took it for granted.
Lucas bounded down the stairs, sweeping in and scooping Sofia up from the floor, lifting her high in the air. “Who wants to spend some time with Uncle Lucas?”
The sound of her giggles filled the room as Lucas spun her around, before setting her back on the floor and chasing her around on all fours, drawing even more laughter from Sofia.
“Come on,” Abi said, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the room, then up the stairs to hers. Once we reached her private bathroom, she shut the door behind us and rummaged through her drawers.
“Here it is.” She pulled out a small box, glancing at the expiration date before handing it to me. “It's still good.”
I stared down at the pregnancy test in horror. Was this seriously a possibility? My hands trembled as I opened the package and took out the small plastic stick, fear gripping my heart like a vise. I couldn't be pregnant, not now when Evan had just taken over as alpha, and our lives were already so complicated. How could I possibly bring another life into this?
“Mariah,” Abi said softly, placing her hand on my shoulder. “There's nothing to be afraid of.”
“Nothing to be afraid of?” I said incredulously. “Abi, my entire world has changed these past few months. With Evan becoming alpha, the clan depending on us, becoming a dragon…and now this?”
“Honey, I know it may seem a little scary, but new things always are. Look at this as a blessing in disguise.” Her eyes searched mine for understanding. “Life is given, and life is taken away. We’ve all had enough heartache. Maybe fate decided you and Evan deserved a little life.”
Her words clanged through me, echoing the same thoughts I'd been grappling with since waking up as a dragon. The universe had already given me so much: a family, a loving mate, the most precious little girl, and a purpose. Was I going to question it if fate had deemed me ready to bear a child?
“Come on,” she encouraged me, guiding me to the private toilet. “It’s easy. Works just like it does for humans. All you have to do is pee on the stick.” Then she shut the door, leaving me alone with the test.
After taking a deep, deep breath, I followed Abi's instructions and took the test. I came back out and set the little stick on the counter, staring as if it held the answers to the universe. The minutes ticked by so slowly I wondered if I’d somehow messed it up, though I didn’t see how. The anticipation nearly drove me mad.
Finally, Abi’s alarm went off. It was time to check the results. My hands trembled as I picked up the stick, unsure what to prepare for.
“Two lines,” I said in a whisper, my hand shaking so much I nearly dropped the test. “Abi, it's positive.”
Abi squealed, wrapping me in her arms. “This is wonderful news.” Her eyes practically glowed with excitement. “You’re going to be a mother again.”
I still stared at the two lines, barely able to comprehend this. I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d never bear a child of my own. I’d been okay with the knowledge that Sofia would be it for us. But now…a whole world of possibility was opened up for me.
We were having a baby.
“I have to go tell Evan.”
He must have taken a break from work because when I returned to the family room, I found him down on all fours right there with Lucas, the three of them crawling around making playful growling noises and having a great time. The sight warmed my heart. He was such a wonderful father. I couldn’t have asked for a better mate.
Evan glanced up and caught sight of me, his smile widening. Then they flickered at the test I clutched tightly in my hand.
“What's that?”
“Come sit with me.” I moved to the couch.
He exchanged confused glances with Abi, who now gestured for Lucas to follow her. The next second, they were hurrying from the room, leaving the three of us together.
He scooped Sofia up in his arms and came to sit beside me. “What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath, staring down at the test, then at Evan. A mixture of fear and excitement swirled inside me as Abi’s words from earlier echoed in my mind. It seemed the universe had decided to give us a little life.
“Mariah?” Evan said.
I locked eyes with him, unable to keep it in any longer, the words tumbling from my lips.
